Scythe & Shadows: The Reapers Awakening

The giant centipede monster twisted its grotesque body, its many legs skittering across the stone floor. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Yami, mandibles clicking angrily.

Yami smirked, spinning his scythes. "What's wrong? Missed your chance to bite?"

The centipede let out a screech and lunged again, its massive jaws aiming to crush him whole.

Phantom Step.

Yami's body flickered like a shadow—he phased through the attack, the monster's mandibles snapping shut on thin air.

Reappearing on the creature's back, he didn't hesitate.

SLASH! SLASH!

Both scythes carved through its armored shell, black mist trailing behind his blades.

The centipede screeched in agony, its body thrashing violently. Yami barely managed to jump off before it slammed into the dungeon wall, cracking the stone.

Landing smoothly, he spun his scythes. "Gotta say, this ability is kinda busted."

The centipede wasn't dead yet, though. Its wounds oozed dark green liquid, and its body shuddered—then, with a disgusting sound, the severed pieces of its shell began regenerating.

Yami narrowed his eyes. "Healing, huh? That's annoying."

The monster rushed him again, faster this time. Yami dodged to the side, but the centipede suddenly curled its body, swiping at him with its razor-sharp legs.

For the first time, Yami felt a leg graze his side, slicing through his coat.

He clicked his tongue. Okay, I see how it is.

He tightened his grip on his scythes, taking a deep breath.

Time to end this.

Phantom Step.

The moment the centipede lunged again, Yami vanished—but this time, he reappeared directly above its head.

"Reaper's Dance."

He spun mid-air, unleashing a flurry of slashes, his dual scythes tearing through the monster's neck joint over and over.

The centipede screeched one last time—then its head detached from its body, slamming into the dungeon floor.

Silence.

Then—

"Soul Absorbed. Reaper's Will +3%."

Yami landed smoothly, watching as the centipede's body dissolved into black mist. He cracked his neck.

"Alright," he muttered, dusting himself off. "Who's next?"

The dungeon remained silent.

Then, from deeper within the darkness, the sound of something massive breathing echoed through the halls.

Yami grinned.

Looks like the real challenge was waiting for him.